The 148th running of the Preakness Stakes takes place today at Pimlico Race Course. The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the American Triple Crown of horse racing.
Race Information:
- Track: Pimlico Race Course
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Event Grade: Grade I
- Race: 13
- Post Time: 7:01 PM ET
- Length: 1 3/16 Mile
- Purse: $1,500,000
- Division: Open | Three Years Old
- Surface: Dirt
- Wagers: Daily Double/ Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / Super Hi-5
TV Schedule:
- CNBC – 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
- NBC – 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM ET
Weather:
- Day: Partly Cloudy 75 F, 9 mp/h E, 57% Humidity, 24% Chance of Rain
- Evening: Overcast w/ Showers 61 F, 8 mp/h SSW, 70% Humidity, 42% Chance of Rain
Previous Winners & M/L Odds:
- 2022: Early Voting
- M/L Odds: 7-2
- 2021: Rombauer
- M/L Odds: 12-1
- 2020: Swiss Skydiver *
- M/L Odds: 6-1
- 2019: War of Will
- M/L Odds: 4-1
- 2018: Justify **
- M/L Odds: 1-2
* Swiss Skydiver was one of six fillies to have won the Preakness Stakes
** Justify was a Tripple Crown Winner
Trainer, Jockey, & Owner Preakness Stakes Records:
- Most Wins by a Trainer:
- 7, Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, 2018)
- 7, R. Wyndham Walden (1875, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1888)
- Most Wins by a Jockey:
- 6, Eddie Arcaro (1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957)
- Most Wins by an Owner:
- 7, Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1958, 1968, 2013)
Preakness Stakes Storylines:
- Mage (#3) will look to become the thirty-seventh horse to have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. If he’s able to do so, he’ll compete in the Belmont and try to become the fourteenth horse to win the Triple Crown.
- Mage (#3) will be the only horse to run in the Preakness Stakes after competing in the Kentucky Derby. This is the smallest group of Derby horses in the race since the Triple Crown series went to its current format 54 years ago.
- Bob Baffert, Trainer of National Treasure (#1), will make his first return to a Triple Crown race in two years. The last time he had a horse in the Preakness was Medina Spirit, two years ago. If National Treasure (#1) does go on to win, Baffert would break a tie with 19th-century trainer R. Wyndham Walden for the most Preakness victories in history.
- Perform (#6) earned his berth in the Preakness with a win in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park. His owners had to pay an extra $150,000 to get him in the field because he was not originally nominated for the Triple Crown series, but trainer Shug McGaughey said they did not hesitate.
Preakness Stakes Historical Post Position Stats:
| Post Position | Wins |
| 1 | 12 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 12 |
| 4 | 14 |
| 5 | 13 |
| 6 | 16 |
| 7 | 14 |
| 8 | 10 |
Field:
| Post Position | Horse | Odds |
| 1 | National Treasure | 4-1 |
| 2 | Chase the Chaos | 50-1 |
| 3 | Mage | 8-5 |
| 4 | CoffeewithChris | 20-1 |
| 5 | Red Route One | 10-1 |
| 6 | Perform | 15-1 |
| 7 | Blazing Sevens | 6-1 |
Horse Preview:
| Name: National Treasure | Odds: 4-1 |
| Owner(s): SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Stonestreet Stables LLC, Schoenfarber, Jay A., Waves Edge Capital LLC, and Donovan, Catherine | |
| Trainer: Bob Baffert | |
| Jockey: John Velazquez | |
| Starts | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | |
| Life | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pimlico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
National Treasure has yet to find the winner’s circle since breaking his maiden back in September of 2022 in a 6 1/2 Furlong Sprint at Del Mar. Following that race, he would go on to finish 2nd in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes and 3rd in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. After that, they shortened him up and dropped him in class but it wasn’t successful as he ran 3rd in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes. In his most recent race, he finished 4th in the Grade 1 RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby. He’s shown some improvement in his last two races posting some impressive speed figures and his workouts have been great as well. One thing to note is he didn’t get a great trip in either of those last two races as he was bumped in both of them. John Velazquez has ridden him in four of his five career starts and will retain the mount.
| Name: Chase the Chaos | Odds: 50-1 |
| Owner(s): Adam Ference & Bill Dory | |
| Trainer: Ed Moger Jr. | |
| Jockey: Sheldon Russell | |
| Starts | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | |
| Life | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Pimlico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chase the Chaos has yet to win a graded stakes race in his eight career starts. In his most recent start, he ran 8th in the California Derby. He didn’t have a great start in that race but was never a threat. Before that, he finished 7th in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. His most recent win was three races ago in the El Camino Real Derby. That was the longest distance he ever ran and posted his best speed figure as well. While he did have success at a longer distance, I don’t think he has the speed to compete in this race. He’s also raced on a synthetic surface for the majority of his career. In his lone start on dirt, he failed to hit the board. Sheldon Russell will get his first career mount on this horse. TOSS
| Name: Mage | Odds: 3-1 |
| Owner(s): OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC, and CMNWLTH | |
| Trainer: Gustavo Delgado | |
| Jockey: Javier Castellano | |
| Starts | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | |
| Life | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pimlico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mage is the morning line favorite coming off a win in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. In that race, he posted his best speed figure. Before that victory, he ran second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. He lost to Forte, who was the Kentucky Derby favorite but was scratched late. In his last two races, he’s lengthened out in distance and has had success. He’s also been more of a closer as compared to a front-runner. There’s not a ton of early speed in this race so it’ll be interesting to see how Javier handles him in this race. There’s not much downside to this horse after the performance he put on in the Kentucky Derby.
| Name: CoffeewithChris | Odds: 20-1 |
| Owner(s): Salzman, Jr., John E., Wasserloos, Fred and Geruso, Anthony | |
| Trainer: John E. Salzman, Jr. | |
| Jockey: Jamie Rodriguez | |
| Starts | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | |
| Life | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Pimlico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
CoffeewithChris placed 5th in the Federico Tesio Stakes in his last start behind fellow entrant Perfrom (1st). Before that, he ran second in the Private Terms Stakes. His last win was in the Miracle Wood Stakes which was run at a mile. In his two most recent races, he lengthened out and hasn’t had much success. He’s also yet to run in a graded-stakes race. There’s not much upside to this horse outside of him breaking his maiden at Pimlico. I’m expecting him to try and push the pace but I’m not sure he’ll be a factor outside of that.
| Name: Red Route One | Odds: 10-1 |
| Owner(s): Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC | |
| Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen | |
| Jockey: Joel Rosario | |
| Starts | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | |
| Life | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Pimlico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red Route One won the Bath House Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park in his last start. He posted a career-best speed figure at a mile and an eighth. Before that, he ran 6th in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby after getting off to a slow start. In his two races before that, he ran 2nd in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and Grade 3 Southwest Stakes. I don’t think he has the speed needed to compete in this race but could be a factor in terms of exotics. Joel Rosario will retain the mount after winning with him in his last start.
| Name: Perform | Odds: 15-1 |
| Owner(s): Woodford Racing LLC, Lanes End Farm, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone, and Edward J. Hudson Jr. | |
| Trainer: Claude R. McGaughey III | |
| Jockey: Feargal Lynch | |
| Starts | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | |
| Life | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Pimlico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Perform has won his last two races. In his most recent race, he won the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park despite stumbling out of the gate. Before that, he won a Maiden Special Weight at Tampa Bay Downs. He’s lengthed out in both of those races and has become more of a closer. While his speed figures have improved, they are a concern. His workouts have also been an encouraging sign for this horse as well. I’m not sure he can win this race but I’ll most likely add him to a few exotics.
| Name: Blazing Sevens | Odds: 6-1 |
| Owner(s): Rodeo Creek Racing LLC | |
| Trainer: Claude R. McGaughey III | |
| Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. | |
| Starts | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | |
| Life | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Pimlico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Blazing Sevens finished 3rd in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes behind two Kentucky Debry entrants. Before that, he ran 8th in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes after being bumped at the start and was never a factor. His last win was four races ago in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. This horse is certainly a factor in his race given his ability to close. His last two workouts were also great so that’s another added factor. He’s also done well with a wet surface before so if that forecast does hold and we do get some rain, watch out.
First Mission has only raced three times in his career. In his last start, he won the Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes. In that race, he posted an impressive speed figure. Before that, he won a Maiden Special Weight at Fair Grounds. He’s shown a liking to the increase in distance winning both those races at a mile and a sixteenth. If he can get out of the gate clean, he is the horse to beat in this race.
Projected Pace:
- Front Runners
- CoffeewithChris (#4)
- Off the Pace
First Mission (#8)- National Treasure (#1)
- Middle/ Back of the Pact
- Mage (#3)
- Blazing Sevens (#7)
- Chase the Chaos (#2)
- Perform (#6)
- Closers
- Red Route One (#5)
Picks:
- Exacta ($1 -> $5):
- (#1 National Treasure) / (#3) Mage, (#4) CoffeewithChris, (#5) Red Route One (#6) Perform, (#7) Blazing Seven
- Exacta ($1 -> $6):
- (#6) Perform, (#7) Blazing Sevens / (#1) National Treasure, (#3) Mage, (#6) Perform, (#7) Blazing Sevens
- Trifecta ($1 -> $12):
- (#1 National Treasure) / (#3) Mage, (#6) Perform, (#7) Blazing Sevens / (#3) Mage, (#4) CoffeewithChris, (#5) Red Route One, (#6) Perform, (#7) Blazing Sevens
- Trifecta ($1 -> $24):
- (#6) Perform, (#7) Blazing Sevens / (#1) National Treasure, (#3) Mage, (#6) Perform, (#7) Blazing Sevens / (#1) National Treasure, (#3) Mage, (#4) CoffeewithChris, (#5) Red Route One, (#6) Perform, (#7) Blazing Sevens
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting. Any feedback whether positive or negative is always encouraged.
